The Israeli Prison Service on Monday transferred Palestinian political leader Marwan Barghouti to the Nafha prison as part of a larger plan to relocate over 2,000 security inmates in an attempt to sever connections between them.
In addition to Barghouti, 70 security prisoners were also transferred on Monday to the southern Israeli prison.
A National Security Ministry official said the plan was partially crafted due to the 2021 incident in which six Palestinian prisoners escaped from the Gilboa Prison in the middle of the night.
The details of the plan were provided by the Prison Service commissioner to National Security Minister Itamar Ben-Gvir during a visit he made to Nafha Prison last Thursday. Ben-Gvir reportedly backed the commissioner's initiative.
Security officials said that the plan was developed before Ben-Gvir took office, but his appointment provided the impetus to carry it out now.
Another purpose of the plan is to meet a 2017 demand of the High Court to increase the living spaces of inmates, which today stands at less than 3 square meters per person in some cells, although Ben-Gvir is not in support of this specific aspect of the plan.
Long-time Fatah activist Marwan Barghouti is considered one of the main figureheads of the first and second Palestinian intifadas. Enjoying significant popularity among the Palestinian public, he announced his candidacy for the Palestinian presidency from behind bars in 2021, before the elections were nixed. He is serving five life sentences and another 40 years for his part in a series of terror attacks in which Israelis were murdered.
Sources in the Prison Service say they estimate that the relocations will cause disturbances among inmates. However, a Palestinian source familiar with the matter told Haaretz most of the prisoners "understand that this is done to increase living space and will not cause problems," adding that "every transfer of Hamas prisoners is coordinated between the Prison Service intelligence and Hamas leadership within the prison." For example, Hamas leadership in the prison is currently demanding an additional wing be made for the organization's prisoners at the Ramon prison.